TSH levels

[luv2dance]

most recent tsh is close to a 4 I am currently on levothyroxine 25mcg, which is a baby dose. my hypo symptoms made a comeback, symptoms come & go, but not at the level they were before treatment when I was over 11 several months ago, at that number I actually thought i was dying! So someone hellp me out here. my current endocronologist does NOT think i need a dose increase but i strongly disagree, he did have me go for another tsh & free t4 last week (the results i will know monday, a copy will faxed to my primary also) to see where i'm at, then will will see what his decision is. I weigh too much to be on such a tiny dose (im actually on the heavy side) & my dr knows how much I weigh but does not even bring that up & i actually need to lose about 20-30 lbs & just cannot seem to do it on my own no matter what diet i chose. Dont get me wrong, i am not in any way looking for a quick weight loss fix, levothyroxine is not a weight loss drug,(where i work there are 250-300lb residents who are hypothyroid & they are 100 lbs overweight!) But I think that being on the right dosage of levothyroxine & correct lifestyle changes & eating habits (i have been religious in recent months!)i should be able to finally lose weight. I am strongly considering changing endo drs, he has not even checked my t3 levels & i have been a patient for almost a year. As everyone is well aware of these dr visits are not cheap & i think this dr is just waiting my time.

[jjambow]

A related discussion, TSH and possible thyroid problem was started.

[goldengirls]

A related discussion, tsh levels was started.

[mommanettie]

my tsh is 28.86 , it was 86.6 a month ago, im on armour 60 and my free t3 is 2.4 and  free t4 is 0.41  my dr says to hang in there, but i feel so bad all the time, i take ativan to help, but she wants me to take lexapro and i dont want to, i just want to be healthy again.  help if you can

[Angelala]

I have been hyperthyroid for at least 5 mos now--and recent TSH and panel shows TSH is undetectable and my T3 is over 300.  I just had an RAIU and at 24 hrs my uptake was 50.1%.  I'm supposed to see and Endo this afternoon but no one can tell me what the antibody labs say.  I had a TSH and panel, CBC, LP, CMP, and the Ab for Hashi's and Graves.  CBC within normal limits, LP only 150 with HDL at top end of normal at 57.  What is wrong with me? Without the Atenolol and HCTZ i can't function and recently was put on 5mg diazapam for the anxiety. What do you think?
P.S. I'm 5'6" and 237--I've lost 20 pounds since April.

[dotstar]

am tsh is 0.72 any idears is that good or bad level from dorothy

[GravesLady]

OverTired, I guess!

Being over hypo can be just as dangerous as being over hyper.

Why don't they add a second pill to your already 300 to kick it up? Or is the 47.6 when on 300 mcg and how long have you been on that does??  

Have you had the FTs checked? Just curious what they are.

I'd be in a coma if my TSH was that high - I'm surprised you arn't! 639 eeks!

If they can't get you into Lab range and fast, try a thyroidologist or an Endo who works with many thyroid patients per year - most deal with and are more experienced in diabetes then thyroid issues.


Good luck!

[OverTired]

Hello everyone
This is my first time here..I have been dealing with hypo thyroid
for about 13yrs my TSH level has never been in normal range
I have been as high as 639 and I am now at 47.6 they just keep playing with my dosage of Levothroxine im currently takeing
300mcg and they have never sent me to see a endo(doctor)
I have put on 40lbs in about 3months so now they want to put me on antidepressants should I refuse the antidepressant at least until they get my levels within normal range(if they ever do)
I would appreciate any and all advise
                                               Thanks Sincerly
                                                 OverTired

[pjajmom]

Hi everyone,
I just found this sight today.
My 5 year old son has been having extreme reactions to heat lately.  He gets weak, slurs his speech, etc.  So they have been running tests.  I got some of them back and and his TSH is 6.23 and his testosterone levels are under 10 (normal 237-770). Of course he is young, so from what I can see, his testosterone levels should be 100-200.  We are still waiting on T3 and T4 results.  Does any of this make any sense to anyone.  I can't handle this not knowing anything and not hearing from the Dr.
How long does it usually take to get T3 and T4 results back?
Thanks for any help

[nelle1]

Greetings...i had thyroid cancer last august and had my thyroid removed.  Since then I've been on Synthroid, which has been increased twice by my dr.  Last week the Dr changed my meds to Armour thyroid and she called today to tell me that my TSH level was 19 and I have a B12 deficiency.  Basically she told me to take a multi vitamin and I should feel better. Everything I've read doesnt make me feel hopeful.  I'm constantly tired, depressed gaining weight and dont know what to do.  I should tell you that my Dr is an endro and yet she didnt discover my thyroid cancer - my dermatologist discovered it.  I dont knopw what to do anymore.  I hate the way I feel and have no energy to resume my exercise routine prior to being diagnosed.  Any suggestions or words of wisdom....

[Lynsae]

Hello Everyone!  I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  My TSH was 76 and Free T4 of .51.  I don't think my doctor (GP) is as familiar with the disease as I am comfortable with, but she is studying it.  I should probably go to an endo?  I am on .1 mg Synthroid, but feel better when I take a pill and a half... I am supposed to go back to have my levels checked in about three weeks.  I've been on the Synthroid for three weeks and have already lost 26 pounds (20 of it I had put on in four weeks, which is why I went to the doctor to begin with).  I guess my question is, is a TSH level of 76 really high?  And what about the free T4 level of .51?  The doctor seemed astounded.  She kept asking me, "Arent you really tired?"  I told her if I sat for more than five minutes I would just fall asleep.  After being on the Synthroid for a few weeks, my joint and muscle aches are gone, and I have more energy now than I've had in the past three years!  I feel so amazingly good I am just beside myself.  Mostly all my symptoms are gone except the depression and that seems to be up and down constantly.  My main concern at this point is that I seem to have sleep apnea as I'm going to sleep... I keep waking up thinking I am not breathing.  Is this normal???  It's pretty scary to the point where I almost try to sleep sitting up in bed.  Thanks for lisetning!  This is all so new to me... this is a great forum.

[jolou]

hi, i have had underactive thyroid since 2001 and have been taking between 175-150mcg thyroxine daily. Now recent tests appear to show levels are high. The figures given to me were- I am at 27 (27 what?) and levels should be between 22-25. if anyone can explain these figures, i would be grateful.

[luv2dance]

If it would help you regarding info on the atkins diet i can fill you in on my husbands experiences with it, he lost 10 lbs in a week (but he was religious which you have to be) that was several years ago, he's put the weight back on because he went off it, but since then hes tried south beach with much success. So both diets do work.

[Presmom77]

I had a baby about 4 months ago and I work at the hospital....it was so weird all of the sudden (and maybe it was there prior but i had just noticed it) i had this swollen neck and I had never had a problem (that I knew of) with thyroid so since I work at the hospital the docs drew my blood and sent the levels off.  Next thing you know chemistry calls with a critical on my TSH levels. From what I have read, normal is about 3...mine was 53.5.  So i kinda panicked but they just prescribed me synthroid .05mg....You know I had wondered why for the past few weeks I felt sooo badly.  When I read all the symptoms everything made sense!

[deliveriesrus]

Hi there,
I'm new to this forum.  I suffered a bout of subacute thyroiditis about 10 years ago and have been hypothyroid ever since.  After 2 kids and 5 years of a grueling residency I find myself about 65 lbs overweight.  I am horrified to admit that I haven't been taking care of myself, no exercise, awful diet, way too much stress and noncompliance with my meds.  So much so that my last recorded TSH was 234, one year ago.  Yes, I typed in 234, no typo there.  The lab even repeated it.  My dose is 0.2 mg of synthroid, which I have been taking now.  I am confused by the info that Atkins will actually slow your metabolism.  I want to start an exercise and diet program and would really appreciate any advice.  Thanks

[andy_jr_2001]

my t4 level was .9 and for tsh 6.04 in feb.
in may it for t4 it was 1.1 and tsh it was 6.42
doc says i could be showing precursor to hypothyroism but doesnt want to give me anything until i get checked again in 3 months, so i went to another doc to get checked for something else and she say my chart and she got worried and asked me why i wasnt on meds. so should i be worried or start on meds? one doc says wait and see if it levels and another one says you need meds.

[LizGem]

Nikim- I wanted to tell you what happened to me because you sound exactly like me!!  I thought that I without a doubt had a thyroid problem (dry skin, cold all the time, hair falling out, tired all the time, etc.) so I went to our family doctor.  He tested my thyroid levels and said that I was perfectly fine.  I felt stupid for going to the doctor and just figured it was all in my head. About 1/2 year later I found out I was pregnant (meanwhile, the symptoms I was having never went away) My OB (best doctor in the whole world) found a lump in my neck at my first prenatal visit and ordered an ultrasound and a biopsy.  Turns out- I have thyroid cancer.  They said I have had it for quite some time- 7.5cm tumor on one side of my thyroid and a bunch of little tumors on the other side.  I had surgery to remove my thyroid, the tumors, and lymph nodes because they had cancer in them too.  I still have some cancer left that they couldn't remove, but sometime this month I will be having the radioactive iodine treatment.  Please go to the doctor again.  Get an ultrasound done of your neck.  Let me know.

[inagalot]

sorry if this a repeat question, but I don't understand the levels of TSH and T4.  2 years ago I had a TSH of 2.96 and a T4 of 7.4.  Are those on the low side? I was prescribed 5mcg of Cytomel by female hormone doctor Erika Schwartz.  A year later, my TSH was 2.62 and my regular internist wanted me off the meds.  I said that I didn't get my PMS depression since on the cytomel but I still have muscle aches and arthritic like joint pain upon rising in the morning.  Also, and I think this may be important, I have been exhausted every morning, on the couch until about 1 pm after 8 hours of sleep and by 4 pm to 11 pm, I'm zipping around the house like I'm on speed that I need to take a valium at times to shut my brain down. My facial skin has also gotten very oily with enlarged pores and blackheads. I saw a Discovery program last night regarding a woman with elevated evening cortisol levels which eventually was diagnosed with Cushings. I've gained about 20 lbs (abdomen mostly although I have uterine fibroids) in a relatively short amount of time and high blood pressure.  My overall cholesterol has gone up 20 points in 6 months and I'm exercising more and eating better. I'm just wondering if I don't have a cortisol problem.  All my problems started about 3 years ago when I had marital problems and had adrenaline running thru me most of the time and I was taken of birth control pills because all of the sudden I had high blood pressure. (One week after getting of the BC pills, my weight went up 7 lbs.) Did I burn out my adrenals? I'm on blood pressure meds but my diastolic is still quite high. Help!!!!!

[luv2dance]

I'm back folks, here's my recent labs: TSH 0.75, total T3 1.17, total T4 6.90, free T3 3.00. I must say I am feeling pretty good with the exception of sweating i've been having (for the past 2 weeks)but now to a lesser degree which had me worried, thank god no heart palps, chest discomfort or brain fog, if I start to notice those then i will decrease the levothyroxine, one thing for sure i WILL NOT increase! For now I think I have found the right dose which is 50mcg, if i lower it i will go back to a 37.5. I'm also having more labs done in 6 weeks. Best of luck to all of you as well.

[Diana199]

Hi, I have a question. In 3/99 I had my thyroid removed. It was enlarged to the point that it surrounded the carotoid artery. The doctors put me on Synthroid at 200 MCG daily, and to this point has been working real well for me. When I had my TSH levels check in October of last year, my level was 0.70 and I felt pretty good. I recently had my levels checked again, and they are 0.13 and wondered why I wasn't able to lose weight, with diet and extreme excercise. I either didn't lose any weight or would put on a pound or two. I haven't been feeling myself lately, very fatigued, but my sleep is very broken, and I'm so cold all the time. My doctor has now changed my Synthroid to 175 MCG. What would make my levels change after all this time?

[nikim]

Hi I am new to this site today and have some questions.  I am going to my doctor on May 1st for my annual exam and I am planning on asking her to test my thyroid.  It will be my first visit with this doctor and I am hoping she will be understanding but I am not counting on it.  I had a thyroid test a couple of years ago but it came back "normal".  Since I didn't know much about it I didn't ask any questions and I don't even know what the level was.  My aunt, mother both have thyroid disorders and possibly my cousin as well, but she hasn't been diagnosed.  I am 26 and have steadily been loosing hair for about 5 or 6 years now, I have very dry skin, I am always tired and sluggish, I have been having crying and depression spells, my periods have become very irregular, I have steadily gained weight since my 2nd child was born but recently gained almost 10 pounds in about 2 weeks, my hands and feet swell very often and I also have coarse and brittle hair and nails, I could go on and on.  I understand that it may not be my thyroid but it seems the most likely.  I am just wondering what I should ask my doctor to test and what I should make of the levels when I get them back.  My husband is military so lets just say sometimes the care isn't the greatest but I am really hoping for some results.  He is getting out of the Army in a couple of months so I really want to try to start to resolve this before he gets out and I have to find new health insurance.  Any advice?

[aziagirl]

Hello - new to site as of today. 51 yr old female -

Just got new TSH levels - 20.28 yesterday. My endo changed meds to synthroid, 137mcg. Have gained 30lbs in 2 months. Will this
help??

[ella1]

Is it possible for your tsh levels to go up once you have started to take medication?

[Janine Jordan]

Susan, when I said don't take the whole bottle of Synthroid, I meant, don't take the whole bottle at once!  You don't want to stop  it cold turkey, though!  When I read my post, it looked like I was telling you not to take it at all.  Synthroid does suppress some symptoms, so you should only stop taking it if you are under doctor's guidance and substituting something else, such as Armour Thyroid for the Synthroid, or are getting your thyroid levels ad TSH tested regularly. If I miss one dose of my Armour Thyroid (or Synthroid, when I was taking it), both of my arms start hurting from elbow to fingertip, so bad I can't even write!  And I had a very hard time doing pushups (I'm in the National Guard and have to exercise to stay in). As long as I take my thyroid (in whatever form), I don't have that horrible pain. It was diagnosed as fibromyalgia, but it went away as soon as I started thyroid supplements.

Janine Jordan

[Janine Jordan]

Susan, I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  I had a small goiter, also.  Your TSH should be around 0, which yours is.  If it is around zero, then your thyroid will not be putting out any hormone; this means it is sufficiently suppressed.  With Hashimoto's, you want to suppress your thyroid from making any hormone, because with Hashi's, you tend to develop nodules (which could become cancerous), so when you suppress your thyroid activity, it slows down making these nodules.  It's really best if your TSH is 00.00, and you are almost there. However, most doctors disagree and when it is around zero, they think you are hyperthyroid and are either taking too much thyroid or your thyroid is making too much.  May doctors, researchers and others disagree, thank goodness.  The lower the TSH, the more thyroid hormone in the system, so that means whatever thyroid supplement you are taking is probably about the right amount.  Hypothyroidism is treated very conservatively in this country, meaning, it is undertreated most of the time and our symptoms never go away.  DO NOT take the whole bottle of Synthroid.  There is a problem with Synthroid.  If you will read the insert that comes with your prescription, it will state that people do not lose weight with it.  Duh!  That should be telling us something.  Synthroid is only T-4.  We need T-4 and T-3.  Armour Thyroid has been used for at least 50 years with no side effects, and women kept the weight off, did not have fibromyalgia, hair loss, goiter, etc.  Then, the wise pharmaceutical companies decided to make the synthetics, and many women were switched to Synthroid.  They started gaining weight and having all sorts of symptoms of low thyroid.  So they asked for their Armour back, and got back to normal.  You should really think about it. Check out Mary Shoman's site.  She's a genius at this stuff.  I'm going to tell you a real story.  My sister is one and a half years older than I.  She was always lean, and since she had a total hysterectomy many years ago, she wasn't getting estrogen, which often messes with the thyroid.  She became hyperthyroid, her doctor removed it, and she became hypothyroid.  She gained 120 lb on a 5 foot 1 inch frame.  After consulting with Mary Shoman and getting on natural Armour thyroid, bio-identical estrogen in a gel that she rubs on her skin, testosterone spray and adrenal support (her adrenals had failed, also), she has lost 120 lb.  She never exercises or diets.  She is 54 years old.  I would also say if you gained over 30 lb that fast, some of it could be water, and you might have either low B6 or congestive heart failure.  If you take certain cholesterol-blocking drugs, they might be blocking your co-enzyme Q-10, a deficiency of which is the main cause of congestive heart failure. If your heart is under-performing, you would build up fluid.  Don't be alarmed, because that is probably not the deal.  Also, most cases of fluid retention are caused by insufficient Vitamin B-6 in the diet.  Vitamin B-6 is the most common vitamin deficiency in women.  Take 50 - 100 mg. per day.  DO NOT take more than 100 mg. as it could cause nerve damage.  But don't take B6 by itself.  You need to take it with the other B vitamins. Buy a bottle of B-50 or B-100. If it says B complex only, it might only have 1 or 2 mg. of B6, so look at the label and see if each of the B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, niacin, etc.) has at least 50 mg. in the pill (folic acid and B 12 will be in micrograms - mcg - instead of milligrams). Mary Shoman saved my sister's life.  Really.  Good luck.  

Janine Jordan